The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-09-03
Cleta's Lovers.
ny LIZZIE NJ. MUIHERN.


pair of deep blue eyes, a dainty, deli
cate face framed in clustering. pale gold
hair, a slender, childish form seated in a
low rocker, her pretty hands clasped idly
together.
As Gordon Leslie entered the room she
rose to her feet, faint flush staining her
cheeks at the involuntary glance of admir-
alton that sprung into his eyes.
"You must pardon my intrusion he
said courteously 81 was directed here to
wait for Miss Despard." Then, seeing the
look of inquiry on her face; 81 am Gordon
Leslie"
"And l." holding out her hand with
childish grace, 'am Lillian, have heard
of you, OF course, and YOU must"
At this moment Cleta Despard entered
the room, as the hands of her sister and
lover met.
1--WE have waited for no formaitics," I"
Gordon said, as Cleta came forward.
She was a rarely beautiful girl, this Cleta
Despard, tall, slim, and stately, with pure,
high-bred face, and skin like calla lily in
its colorless perfection, with great, dark
eyes and sweeping lashes, and heavy waves
of nut-brown hair coiled round her grace
full head,
She would make a fair and gracious mis-
tress for Gordon Leslie's stately home-the
home whose artistic magniiicence was the
theme of every tongue.
He might search the world over, and one
more suited to his position than this regal
beauty he could meyer find.
He was very proud man, this Gordon
Leslie, proud Of his name, ancient and hon.
orable, proud of his beautiful home, and
prouder still of his own unblemlshed life,
He had wooed Cleta Despard with state
ly courtesy, and had won her promise to be
his wife, and his mind had rested perfectly
satisfied on the subject Her beauty pleased
his eyes, her regal bearing satisfied his
pride. In fact, he could find no flaw in
beautiful Cleta Despard.
And she-well, this dark-eyed girls hear
was harder, perhaps, to read.
She loved him, or at least believed She
did, and when he had asked her 10 be hi
wife she had answered "Yes."
And after that her memory had strayeC
back to the past.
But, after all, what was the past?-wha
had it held for her her?
Only the memory Of handsome, boyisl
lover, who had taken her in his arms be
fore he went to sea, and told her Of his pas
sionate love; and she, girl of seventeen
had clung to him in passion Of tears, ans
promised she would be true.
And the ship had gone down-down viii
almost all on board, and among them he
gallant young lover. a few sailors haC
been saved from the wreck, and they hat
carried the tale ashore.
He had been fayorite with every one OIL
board the vessel, this light-heaTted youth
who had loved Cleta Despard so passing
we'll His pleasant word and ready smil,
had won all hearts, and the sailors remem
bered him well and told how he had claspeC
a pictured face to his lips and muImureS
darling" ere he sank beneath the waves.
The story had been brought to Cleta Des
pard's home, for her father had been hi
guardian.
Their sweet loye-dream had been a secre
between themselves, for Roy Perciyal ha,
his way TO make in the world; but the,
had grown up together, and no one wa
surprised that when the sorrowful story wa
told, Cleta had thrown up her hands with
low cry and fallen white and senseless a
her fathers feet
Perhaps her mother had learned the pitt
ful truth from her passionate sobs whel
consciousness returned, If no other way 70
Cleta MAS naturally proud and reticent il
the extreme. Perhaps the pals of he
beautiful face spoke clearer still to tn
mothers heart; for one thing certain, Mr.:
Despsrd was strangely tender to Cleta I
the DAYS that followed the story.
But Clela was little more than chill
then, and time heals all wounds, eve
though IL leaves scar; and as time passe
on, the pain faded from the clear, dar
eyes, the proud, crimson lips framed then
selves TO smiles again.
But years passed before She smiled ON
lover again. aud only then when Gordo
Leslie wooed her.
Perhaps her moiher meyer fores1tlle IA